Initially works well as a cooking utensil (3)
I believe the answer is:
wok
'a cooking utensil' is the definition.
(I know that wok is a type of cooking utensil)
'initially works well' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'well' becomes 'ok' (synonyms).
The initial letter of 'works' is 'w'.
'w'+'ok'='WOK'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for wok that I've seen before include "A Chinese large-bowled frying pan" , "pot" , "Chinese cooking pan" , "Pan used in Chinese cookery" , "Large Chinese frying pan" .)